Electric switching mechanism



April 23, 1929. DOUGLAS 1,710,411

ELECTRIC SWITCHING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 17, 1927 H y J Patented Apr. 23,1929.

UNHTED HARRY A. DGUGJLAS, 01? BRQNSON, MICHIGAN.

ELECTRIC SlliTI'llCHING MECHANISM.

Application filed November 17, 1927. Serial No. 233,870.

My invention relates to circuit controlling switching mechanismemploying casings for the switch contacts and switch operating handles.

My invention has for its object the provision of improved means forassembling the switch casings with supports therefor.

In accordance with my invention, the switch casing terminates in abearing sleeve and has an enlargement thereon which is preferably in theform of a nut which is screwed upon the sleeve. A flange is alsoprovided upon the sleeve, the support or mounting for the switch casingbeing confined between the flange and nut, the nut being upon one sideof the support, the contacts of the switching mechanism being upon thesame side of the support with the nut. A hole is formed in the supportwhich is smaller than the flange but larger than the nut and the part ofthe switch casing to the rear of the nut to permit the nut and this partof the switch casing to be passed through the support. The flange,however, is larger' than the hole. lln order that the nut may serve toclamp the flange against the support, T employ a washer, preferablyU-shapcd, which is inserted laterally of the casing sleeve between thenut and support. The aforesaid flange is desirably provided with a skirtportion which is snugly received in the hole in the support whereby thecasing is accurately positioned. The switch is operated by a shaft thathas bearing in the sleeve portion-of the casing, this shaft beingdesirably movable longitudinally of the sleeve to constitute the switcha push and pull switch.

The invention will-be more fully explained by reference to theaccompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of thepreferred embodiment of the invention with the switch support shown insection; Fig. 2

is a. sectional view online 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view online 3-3 0 Fig. 1; and Fig. i is a view partially in section andpartially in elevation showing parts in separated relation andillustrating the manner in which they are clampedin assembly. The switcheasing illustrated is inclusive of a body portion 1 and terminates in anexteriorly threaded bearing sleeve 2 of smaller diameter than said bodyportion. The parts 1 and 2 are desirably separately formed. As shown,the body portion 1 is formed with a circular opening at its front end, aportion 3 margining this opening being snugly received within an annulargroove which is formed in the rear end of the sleeve. The body portion 1of the casing is closed, at its rear end, by a disc of insulation 4which is held in place by means of tongues 5 that are clinched over thedisc. Two stationary contacts 6 and 7 are anchored upon said disc withinthe casing body 1, these contacts being firmly united electrically andmechanically with the terminal blocks 8, 9 that are upon the exterior ofthe casing. Rivets 10, having shank portions passing through the disc,are desirably headed into assembly with said contacts and terminalblocks, as illustrated most clearly in Fig. 2. A third contact 11 iscomplemental to both of the contacts 6 and 7 and is movable into and outof engagement with the latter contact while preferably being inpermanent engagement With the other contact. In the embodiment of theinvention illustrated, the contact 11 is in the form of a metalliccollar which is carried upon an insulating disc 12 which is secured uponthe reduced inner end 13 of a handle shaft 14. In the embodiment of theinvention shown, the shaft 14 is provided with a knob 15 and is movablethereby longitudinally of the bearing sleeve.

The support which I have illustrated for the switch casing, is in theform of a board or panel 16, such as a dashboard of an automobile, theswitch of my invention being of particular utility in controllingcertain automobile circuits. The casing is held in suitable assemblywith the dash board by confining or clamping the dash board betweenthe'flange 17 upon the front end of the sleeve 2 and an enlargement 18upon a portion of the sleeve to the rear of the dash board, thisenlargement being desirably in the form of a nut which is employed tohold said flange in clampin engagement with the dash f board. Washers19, 20 and 21 are interposed between the nut and the dash board. Acircular hole 22 is formed through the dash board, this hole beingsufficiently large to permit said nut, all the washers except washer 19,and the body portion 1 of the casing to be passed through the dash boardfrom the front side thereof. The flange 17, however, is larger than saidhole and engages and laps the same in the region of the hole. After theparts 1, 18. 20 and 21 have been passed through the dash board, asillustrated in Fig. i, the washer 19, which is desirably, U-shaped, isinserted laterally ot the sleeve between the washer 20 and the dashboard 16, this washer 19 bein also larger or of greater diameter thanthe hole 22 so that when the nut 18 is tightened, the dash board 16 isfirmly clamped between the flange 17 and the til-shaped washer 19. Thewasher 21 is desirably a spring washer so that the parts will not workloose after the clamping operation has been efi'ected. Tn order that theswitch structure may be aligned accurately with respect to the center ofthe hole 22, T form the flange 17 with a skirt portion 23 which issnugly received within the hole. The flange 17 is desirably assembledwith the bearing sleeve 2 by having its central portion tightly receivedwithin an annular groove formed in the outer end of the sleeve.

Changes may be made without departing from the invention.

Having thus described my invention, T claim:

1. The combination with a casing terminating in an exteriorly threadedbearing sleeve; of an electric switch having complemental contactswithin the casing; a shaft within said sleeve and in actuating relationto one of said contacts and accessible for operation at the outer end ofthe sleeve; a flange upon the sleeve; a nut screwed upon the threads ofthe sleeve; a support having a hole therethrough through which the nutand the portion of the casing where said contacts are disposed arepassed to one side of said support, said flange being upon the otherside of the support and lapping the same in the region of the holetherethrough, and having a skirt portion snugly received in said hole toposition the casing with respect to the support; and a washer formed forinsertion, and inserted, laterally of the sleeve and clamped by the nutbetween the nut and support.

2. The combination with a casing terminating in an exteriorly threadedbearing sleeve; of an electric switch having complemental contactswithin the casing; a shaft within said sleeve and in actuating relationto one of said contacts and accessible for operation at the outer end ofthe sleeve; a flange upon the sleeve; a nut screwed upon the threads ofthe sleeve; a support having a hole therethrough through which the nutand the portion of the casing where said contacts are disposed arepassed to one side of said support, said flange being upon the otherside of the support and lapping the same in the region of the holetherethrough; and a washer formed for insertion, and inserted, laterallyof the sleeve and clamped by-the nut between the nut and support.

3. The combination with a casing terminating in a bearing sleeve andhaving an enlargeinent thereon; of an electric switch havlgnaeaa ingcomplemental contacts withinthe casing; a shaft within said sleeve andin actuating relation to one of said contacts and accessible foroperation at the outer end of the sleeve; a flange upon the sleeve; asupport having a hole therethrough through which the enlar ement on thecasing and the portion of the casing where said contacts are disposedare passed to one side of said support, said flange being upon the otherside of the support and lapping the same in the region of the holetherethrough, and having a skirt portion snugly received in said hole toposition the casing with respect to the support; and a washer formed forinsertion, and inserted, laterally of the sleeve and confined betweensaid enlargement and support.

4. The combination with a casing terminating in a bearing sleeve andhaving an enlargement thereon; of an electric switch having complementalcontacts within the casing;

a shaft within said sleeve and in actuating relation to one of saidcontacts and accessible for operation at the outer end of the sleeve; aflange upon the sleeve; a support having a hole therethrough throughwhich the enlargement on the casing and the portion of the casing wheresaid contacts are .disposed are passed to one side of said support, saidflange being upon the other side of the support and lapping the same inthe region of the hole therethrough; and a washer formed for in sertion,and inserted, laterally of the sleeve and confined between saidenlargement and support.

5. The combination with a casing terminating in an. exteriorly threadedbearing sleeve; of an electric switch having compleinental contactswithin the casing; a shaft within said sleeve and in actuating relationto one of said contacts and accessible for operation at the outer end ofthe sleeve; a flange upon the sleeve; a nut screwed upon the threads ofthe sleeve; :1. support having a hole therethrough through which the nutand the portion of the casing where said contacts are disposed arepassed to one side of said support, said flange being upon the otherside of the support and lapping the same in the region of the holetherethrough, and having a skirt portion snugly received in said hole toposition the casing with respect to the support; and a U-shaped washerinserted laterally of the sleeve and clamped by the nut between thenutand support.

6. The combination with a casing terminating in an exteriorly threadedbearing sleeve; of an electric switch having complemental contactswithin the casing; a shaft within said sleeve and in actuating relationto one of said contacts and accessible for operation at the outer end ofthe sleeve; :1. flange upon the sleeve; a nut screwed upon the threadsof the sleeve; a support having a hole theret-hrough through which thenut and the portion of the casing where said contacts are disposed arepassed to one side of said support, said flange being upon the otherside of the support and lapping the same in the region of the holetherethrough; and a U-shaped washer inserted laterally of the sleeve andclamped by the nut between the nut and support.

7. The combination with a casing terminating in a bearing sleeve andhaving an enlargement thereon; of an electric switch having complementalcontacts -within the casing; a shaft within said sleeve and in actuatingrelation to one of said contacts and accessible for operation at theouter end of the sleeve; a flange upon the sleeve; 8. support having ahole therethrough through which the enlargment on the casing and theportion of the casing where said contacts are disposed are passed to oneside of said sutpport, said flange being upon the other si e of thesupport and lapping the same in the region of the hole therethrough, andhaving a skirt portion snugly received in said hole to position thecasing with. respect to the support; and a U-shaped washer insertedlaterall of the sleeve and confinedbetween said en argement and support.

8. The combination with a casing terminating in a bearing sleeve andhaving an enlargement thereon; of an electric switch having complementalcontacts within the casing; a shaft within said sleeve and in actuatingrelation to and accessible for operation at the outer end of the sleeve;a flange upon the sleeve; a support having a hole therethrough throughone of said contacts which the enlargement on the casing and the portionof the casing where said contacts are disposed are passed to one side ofsaid support, said flange being'upon the other side of the support andlapping the same in the region of the hole therethrough; and a U-shapedwasher inserted laterally of the sleeve and confined between saidenlargement and support.

9. The structure of claim 1 wherein the shaft is slidable longitudinallyof the bearing sleeve.

10. The structure of claim 2 wherein the shaft is slidablelongitudinally of the bearing sleeve.

11. The structure of claim 3 wherein the shaft is slidablelongitudinally of the bearing sleeve.

12. The structure ofclaim 4 wherein the spaft is slidable longitudinallyof the bearing s eeve.

13. The structure of claim 5 wherein the shaft is slidablelongitudinally of the bearing sleeve. s 7

1 4. The structure of claim 6 wherein the shaft is slidablelongitudinally of the bearing sleeve.

15. The structure of claim 7 wherein the shaft is slidablelongitudinally of the bearing sleeve.

16. The structure of claim 8 wherein the shaft is slidablelongitudinally of the bearing sleeve.

In witnesswhereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

' "HARRY A. DOUGLAS.

